Radiography Accreditation, Certification, Licensure, and Standards — Last-Minute Review

Accreditation

• Applies to institutions (hospitals, schools, imaging centers).

• Voluntary process, attesting to minimum standards.

• In patient care, tied to reimbursement.

Hospital Accreditation

• Required for government funds.

• Accredited by The Joint Commission (TJC) or directly by CMS/HCFA.

• Meets criteria for safety, equipment, patient care, management, staff competency.

National Level

• $1981$ CPRHSA required government to set minimum education/training standards and certification for imaging professionals, but enforcement was stripped and standards were never set/enforced.

• Additional information on ASRT website.

Mammography Accreditation (MQSA)

• MQSA mandates accreditation for non-VA mammography facilities.

• Non-accredited services cannot receive Medicare/government funding; most third-party payers follow.

• Sets strict quality controls, staff certification, and quality assurance guidelines.

Accreditation for Advanced Imaging

• Effective $2012$: required for CT and MRI; pending for other services.

• Provided by ACR, Joint Commission, and other agencies.

• Required for Medicare/government payer reimbursement; most insurers follow.

• Technologists must have specialty certification.

Accreditation of Schools

• Demonstrates compliance with educational standards (e.g., JRCERT, JRC).

• ARRT recognizes regional accreditation (e.g., Higher Learning Commission for Herzing College).

Certification and Registry

• Individual Certification: Requires meeting education, passing an exam, completing continuing education (CE), and paying renewal fees.

• Registry: A list of currently certified individuals; often a prerequisite for employment and licensure.

ARRT (American Registry of Radiologic Technologists)

• Founded $1922$.

• Offers certifications in Radiology, Nuclear Medicine, CT, MRI, Mammography, Bone Densitometry, Quality Management, Sonography, Vascular Sonography, Breast Ultrasound, Radiation Therapy, and Vascular/Cardiac Interventional.

ARRT Certification Process

• Requires passing a registry exam after graduating from an approved program.

• Demands an annual renewal fee.

• Mandates $24$ CEUs in a $2$-year biennium (specialized certifications count as $24$ credits).

• CEUs tracked by ARRT or ASRT.

• Certification can be revoked for ethics violations, CEU falsification, criminal activity, or registry fraud.

ARRT Ongoing Requirements

• Annual renewal in your birthday month.

• Biennium CE: $24$ CEUs every $2$ years; biennium ends the month before your birth month every other year.

• Eligible CE activities: approved online classes, self-study, lectures, classroom learning.

ARRT Long-Term Requirements: CQR

• Every $10$ years, RTs credentialed on/after $2011$ must complete Continuing Qualifications Requirements (CQR).

• CQR identifies knowledge gaps and creates a plan for refreshers.

Start of CQR Process

• Starts in year $7$ of credentialing.

• Includes: Professional Profile, Structured Self-Assessment (SSA), Clinical Refreshers, and Prescribed Continuing Education.

• Not a repeat registry exam; Prescribed CE counts toward Biennium CE.

• Targeted CEUs must be completed before year $10$ to maintain registration.

Licensure

• Government-issued, usually state-based (e.g., Florida).

• Florida recognizes ARRT registry for a General Radiographer ($= RT$).

• Limited scope license: Non-RT (e.g., BMO).

• May add modalities (CT, NM, MR, BD) and is required for any use of radiation.

Licensure in Florida

• Requires ARRT registry for a general radiographer, separate paperwork, and CEUs.

• Full licensure granted upon proof of ARRT passage.

Licensure Renewal

• Every $2$ years, requiring $12$ approved Florida CEUs (not all ARRT credits count).

• Personal development renewal periods may differ from ARRT; renewal records must be kept.

• Failure to renew results in license suspension; all fees and CEUs must be up to date to renew a lapsed license.

Professional Societies

• Organizations representing groups; usually independent of accrediting bodies.

• May appoint individuals to accrediting agencies, lobby, and provide continuing education, journals, conferences, and member services.

Professional Societies – Examples

• ASRT: Radiographers (includes student section).

• ASTRO: Radiation therapy.

• AEIRS: Radiology educators.

• AHRA: Radiology managers; offers CRA certification.

• ACR: Radiologists; sets quality standards.

• ISRRT: International Radiographers.

• SMRM: MRI.

• SNM: Nuclear Medicine (radiologist and technologist sections).

• SMS: Sonographers.

Websites you will need

• https://www.arrt.org (ARRT registry info, requirements, exam content, CEU, ethics).

• https://www.asrt.org/ (ASRT resources, CEU, professional topics, student section).

Practice Standards (Pg. 327)

• Developed by ARRT and ASRT; maintained/updated by ASRT.

• Denote expected quality standards; adjustable with state rules.

• Provide measurable standards for care and basic expectations; referred to in malpractice cases.

Practice Standards – Format

• Divided into three sections: Clinical Performance Standards, Quality Performance Standards, and Professional Performance Standards.

• Each section contains numbered standards with criteria, rationale, and explanations.

Review of Practice Standards

• General Criteria: General intent for radiographers and therapists.

• Specific Criteria: Specific to radiography, requiring adherence to physician orders and protocols.

Resources

• Society membership is optional but beneficial (education, networking, resources).

• Key professional websites and organizations provide ongoing benefits and updated standards.